NAMEPA to Host 2026 AMVER Awards Ceremony During National Maritime Week in Honor of Maritime Excellence and Rescue at Sea

May 5th, 2026 – The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) is proud to host the United States Coast Guard’s 2026 AMVER Awards Ceremony, honoring the maritime industry’s enduring commitment to safety at sea. The ceremony will take place on May 21, 2026, at the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Offices (80 M Street SE) in Washington D.C., following NAMEPA’s annual Safety at Sea Seminar during National Maritime Week.

Each year, the AMVER program recognizes the dedication, vigilance, and lifesaving contributions of merchant vessels and their crews. Awards are marked by distinctive pennants displayed aboard participating ships and within company headquarters worldwide, symbolizing sustained commitment to the program. A blue pennant denotes a vessel’s first year of participation, gold signifies five consecutive years, and purple represents ten years of continuous service. This year, the USCG will be recognizing 156 companies representing over 500 vessels.

Inspired in part by lessons learned from the Titanic disaster, AMVER reflects a long-standing commitment to improving communication and coordination at sea. Today, it serves as a cornerstone of international maritime safety, with participating vessels regularly reporting their positions to support rapid, coordinated response efforts when emergencies arise. Recent examples include the Carnival Legend rescuing a stranded sailor and his cat in the Gulf of Mexico, a Princess Cruises vessel diverting course to assist a distressed small craft, and Texas A&M Maritime Academy cadets being honored for their role in life-saving operations. Widely shared across media and social platforms, these stories reflect the everyday reality of AMVER.

Click here to read the full press release.

Developing Agenda:

1230: Registration and Networking
1300: Welcome, Safety, and Introduction
1305: Opening Remarks – Joe Hughes, Chairman of NAMEPA and Chairman of the Shipowner’s Claims Bureau
1310: Opening Keynote – Safety in an Era of Geopolitical Uncertainty
1330: Panel #1 – Global Risk and Maritime Security: Navigating an Uncertain World –Safety today is influenced not only by operations at sea, but by global politics, economic pressures, and infrastructure vulnerabilities.
Moderated by: Carleen Lyden Walker, Chief Evolution Officer, SHIPPINGInsight
– The Intersection of National Security & Maritime Safety – RADM James Watson, USCG (Ret.), Co-Author – Zero Point Four, Co-Founder – American Maritime Industrial Coalition (AMIC)
– Global Conflicts and Impacts on Shipping Routes – Jan-Willem van den Dijssel, Americas Business Development Lead, Cargill Inc. Ocean Transportation
–Cybersecurity and Maritime Infrastructure: Protecting the Digital Backbone of Shipping – Michael DeVolld, Senior Technical Director, ABS Group
1400: Coffee/Tea Break
1430: Qualship 21 – A Legacy of Securing Safety – RDML(s) Robert Compher, USCG
1445: Panel #2 – The Human Element of Maritime SafetyEven with advanced technology and regulations, maritime safety ultimately depends on the people operating vessels, managing operations, and making decisions under pressure. This panel explores the human realities shaping safety across the maritime industry.
Moderated by: Jan Hagen Andersen, Business Development Director – Americas, Maritime, DNV
– Operational Decision-Making at Sea: Managing Risk in Real Time – Peter Hadjipateras, Chief Information, Security, and Sustainability Officer, Dorian LPG
– Promoting Leadership in Maritime – Dr. Robert “Navy Bob” Roncska, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Leading With Love
– The Reality of Life at Sea: Supporting the Wellbeing of Mariners – Deacon Paul Rosenblum, Port Minister – Stella Maris, President – NAMMA
– Human Factors in Maritime Incidents – Maria Kolitsdia, Founder, Signal Fusion
1530: Panel #3 – Building the Future of Safe Maritime Operations  As the maritime industry evolves, ensuring safety will depend on preparing the next generation of mariners, integrating new technologies responsibly, and adapting to major operational changes such as the energy transition. This panel explores how industry leaders are building safer maritime operations for the future.
Moderated by: Molly Dushay, Executive Director, NAMEPA
– Workforce Development and the Future Mariner – Adam Lukasiewicz, Kings Point Alum 2020, @nd Officer, Co-Founder, SOTAS
– Training for Tomorrow: Preparing Mariners for New Technologies – Buddy Custard, President & Chief Executive Officer, Alaska Chadux̂ Network
– The Safety of New Maritime Fuels  – Doug Martin, Chairman, OPA 90 Forum
1600: USCG AMVER and Benkert Awards
– Introduction – Carleen Lyden Walker, Co-Founder & CEO, NAMEPA
– USCG Remarks – Vice Commandant Thomas Allen, USCG
– Presentation of the AMVER Awards
– Presentation of the Benkert Award
1700: Closing Remarks – Joe Hughes, Chairman of NAMEPA and Chairman of the Shipowner’s Claims Bureau